Braiding machine



H. G. ROBINSON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1lNVENTOR fl/wm 6. Roam/.50

W ATTORNEY Nov; 27, 1928.

H. G. ROBINSON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVEN1 0K AM/r/rv G Foam/sow x ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1928.

H. G. ROBINSON BRAIDING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 24, 1926\\\\.i qxmgk ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1928. 1,693,121

H. G. ROBINSON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1,926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IINVENTOR 30 /7 I l 6mm Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

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UNITED srA HARRY G. ROBINSON, OF WATERBURY CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR '10INDUSTRIES OI AMERICA, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

Application filed September 24, 1926. Serial No. 137,395. 7

This invention relates to braiding machines and has for an object theprovision of an improved braiding machine of the type in which braidingcarriers are moved in intersecting sinuous paths by means of v rotatingdrivers with devices which hold the respective carriers against thedrivers at their peripheries through a portion of their rotation, andwhich release the carriers at 1 appropriate transfer regions where acarrier is passed from one driver to another and is thereby carried in arev'erscly curved part of the sinuous path until the carrier is againtransferred to the next driver of the series, and so on throughout thesystem of drivers. An object ofthe invention is to provide the carrierswith terminal flanges adapted to be held in recessesnear the upper facesof the actuating drivers, and to be gripped therein by means carried onthe hubs of the drivers, and acting to force the flanges against theunder surfaces of removable plates covering the recesses, the machinebeing organized to permit unusually ready removal of the carriers forpurposes of changing the carriers or inspecting the underlying partswithout undue disorganization of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide holding devices for theabove purpose in the form of dogs pivoted upon the hubs of the driversin such balanced position as to be normally given a bias by centrifugalforce and gravity away from holding position, and to provide means inthe form of annular cams co-axially disposed adjacent to the drivers andadapted to force the dogs positively into holding position, so that thedogs are quick-acting and sensitive in their operations and constituteeffective holding I devices which do not get out of order nordeteriorate rapidly, but operatewvith uniform regularity and are morereliable in action than existing devices for thepurpose.

Another object is to permit the use of cams which can be formedinexpensively to effect the desired movements of the carriers, and whichcan be exchangedquickly to produce different types of product. 4 Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a machine adaptable to themanufacture of a wide variety of products, includingflat and tubularbraids ortapes, and which can be used in the production of suchdifferent articles as flat wire tape for tire beads, sheathing forinsulated electrical conductors and delicate ric-rac in diversepatterns.

Still another object is to provide a machine which can be operatedreliably at extremely high speeds and with a minimum of friction Hillnoise, by operators of less than average s ill. I A i Among otherobjects are the rovision 01 means to eifect automatically t e thoroughand continuous lubrication of the operating instrumentalities, and toprevent soiling of the product by the lubricant; a cognate object beingthe organization of the operating parts, and the lubricant circulatingdevices, in such a manner as to concentrate the fluff or fibres givenoff by certain materials and to utilize the same as a filter for thelubricant.

Anotherobject is to provide an extremely sensitive detector mechanismadapted to stop the machine quickly upon failure of the sup ply or uponarrivalof a defectiveportion of thread, before the defect can result ina flaw in the final product.

The above features. and others, are illustrated and described fully inthe accompanying drawings and specification and are pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section of a braiding machine in theconstruction of which the invention has been embodied, with parts shownin elevation Fig.2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1,upon an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, detail view in side elevation of the headof themachine shown .in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detail view in vertical section, on an enlargedscale, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detail view in horizontal section on the line55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse, vertical section on the line 6-6of Fig. 5.

In the illustrated embodiment, the part designated by the referencenumeral 1 is the casing adapted to enclose the actuating parts of abraiding machine, approximately circular in form and comprising a bottompart 2 with side walls 3 and having brackets 4, 5 and 6 to support thehorizontal drive shaft 7 which is geared at 8 to a vertical shaft 9 eX-'16, upona bearing stud 17, driving the gear 16 and driving thereby thegear 18 at oneside of lge'arll, and also the chain of gears 16 on theother'side which are mounted rotatably upon bearing studs 17 in anapproximately circular arrangement within the casing 1, to the bottom 2of which the studs are secured in bosses 19 by suitable nuts 20, asshown in Figs. 1

and 4. Y

In pursuance of the invention, a series of carrier driver disks isprovided for actuation by the gears 16 and 18, and of these disksthere'may be any suitable number, eight being shown in the illustratedembodiment, numbered 21 to 28, these disks being supported in such amanner as to permit the attach mentto their upper faces of flangedcarrier members 6 to b", in the manner best understood by reference toFig. 4,'which'illustrates also a preferred type of braiderunit supported by the carrier Z2 and designated generally by thereferencecharacter B.

' The driver disks 22 to 27 are preferablyof substantially identicalconstruction throughout the series, and similarly connected with theirrespective gears 16, so that the following description of the nowpreferred form of structure associated with the driver disk 22 willserve as a description of each.

The driver 22 is preferably fo'med integrally with a hub 30 co-aXialwith the gear 7 16, and is provided with four arcuate peripheralrecesses32 to receive the flange 33 with which each of the carrier members 6 toZ)" is provided, so that as each carrier flange engages with one of thetransfer disks its flange '33 enters one of these arcuate recesses 32and fits snugly against the curved wall 31 thereof, being embracedbetween the driver 22 and a cover plate 22, the latter having itsperiphery cut away at 34 to clear the central post or neck b' of thecarrier.

In pursuance of an important object of the V invention, means areprovided to hold the carrier positively against the disk 22'while thesame rotates from the transfer point at which it receives the carrier tothe transfer polnt at which the disk passes the carrier on e to theadjacent disk, where the carrier is re leased and is picked up by theadjacent disk and is there held by similar positively acting means.

The now preferred form of holding means comprises two sets of dogs 35and 36 mounted on pivots 39 in radial slots 37 and 38 formed in the-hub30 of the gear 16, the dogs being formed with yokes in which areanti-friction rollers-40 adapted to run upon a cam 41 mounted upon astationary plate 112 extending horizontally across the casing.

All of t iese dogs are preferably so formed that by the action ofcentrifugal force and gravity they will be given a bias downwardly awayfrom the flanges 33 of the carriers, tending normally to occupy theposition oi the dog 35 in Fig. 4, and in pursuance of .the invention thecam 41 is provided with annular face tracks '53 and 55, of a. contourrespectively adapted to force the dogs 35 and 36 upwardly into theposition shown in Fig. 4'at 36. In this position the shoulder 43' of thedog is adapted to enter the annular groove 42 with which the bottom ofthe carrier flange is provided, and serves when so engaged to preventdisplacement of the carrier from the disk, crowding the carrier flangetoward the curved wall 31 of the recess32, and at the same time forcingit firmly upward against the bottom of the plate 22 Such engagement isillustrated clearly in V the instance'of the similar dog 44 pivoted at45 within a radial slot 46 in the facedisk 4'? extending from the hub 48of driver 21, upon which disk is mounted plate 21 this driver beingabout to transfer the carrier?) tothe disk 22, for which operation thecarrier will be released by the descent of dog 44 when its roller 40runs down an incline 49 on track 50 of the cam 51, while the pick up ofthe carrier 5 is simultaneously performed by the dog 35 when its roller40 runs up the incline 52 of the inner track 53 of cam 41, this doubleaction of the dogs being practically instantaneous, so that no dwell isrequired, nor is there any shock incidental to loose motion, the carrierbeing swung into reverse with a smooth, steady continuity of actionwhich causes the machine to operate quietly and reliably, and increasesits effective life.

Hill

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It isto be noted that all the dogs 35 have the dogs 35 control thetransfers of carriers outward bound from the disk 21, while the dogs 36control the transfers of carriers bound toward the disk 21. For thispurpose the dogs 35 arespaced 90apart in their slots 37 and the dogs 36are spaced 90apartin the slots 38. r

In the particular type of braiding machine selected for illustration,thebraiding units are arranged 'to'return upon their courses, in

order to make a flat braid for which purpose the disks 21 and 28 serveto accomplish the sit-ion to run upon the'outer tracks 55; and

ends of the sinuous required change of direction, each carrier beingswung around a complete circle by the disk 21 and by the disk 28 at therespective ath.

Accordingly, eac of the disks 21 and 28 has an extra seat 32 and acorresponding number of dogs 44, and means are provided to operateeachdog to pick up a carrier at the single transfer point, occupied by thecarrier 12 in Figs. 2 and 4, and to release the carrier when the disk 21has made a complete turn, so that one ormor'e of the dogs 44 are alwaysout of use'on alternate rotations of the disk 21, and the same is trueof the dogs on disk 28, which are identical in arrangement with those on21.

A different type of cam motion is required to operate the dogs 44, andas the now preferred form of cam for this purpose, there may be utilizeda cam 51 having a single cam track 50 of uniform height throughout itsextent, except at the region of the transfer point occupied by'thecarrier 5 (see Fig. 2) where there is a gap 56 in the cam track, (seeFigs. 5 and 6) occupied by a slide 57 having a plurality of arcuate camtrack segments 49 and 59 the inclines of which are brought alternatelyinto position for action, by radial movement of the'slide outward andinward between the times of transfer, the roller 40 of the dog runningdown one incline 49 (see Figs. .4 and 5) as the rotation of disk 21brings the dog 44 near the transfer point, so that the roller 40 runsmomentarily on the low path 60 of the cam slide, and at this phase ofthe rotation of the driver, the dog 44 at that time passing is depressedand then its roller 40 runs up the opposite incline 49, causing the dog44 to engage and hold one of the carriers 5 etc., this holding actionbeing maintained by track 50 for one complete rotation of the driver 21.Then the inward shifting of the slide 57 brings one of the inclines 59at the inner portion of the cam slide into registry with the circularpart 50' of the cam track, and the roller 40' runs down one incline 59,allowing the appropriate dog 44 to fall and release the carrier 6 or thecarrier which is to be transferred to the co-operating driver 22 andthat carrier is immediately picked up by the proper dog 35 on the driver22, and which is swung around with the disk 22, until the transfer pointto driver 23is reached, and so on.

As suitable means to'eflect the required reciprocation of the slide 57,I have shown a gear 61 meshing with a gear 62 on the hub 48, andprovided with a crank-pin 63 and slide-block 64 working in a slot 65 ofthe slide 57, a plate 66 being fastened by screws 67 upon the cam part68 to hold the parts in assembled relation. g

The ratio of the gear 61 to gear 62 is two and one half to one, so thatthe slide 57, and

its cam shoulders 49 and 59, makes five complete reciprocation! for eachtwo rotations of the disk 21; and thus each dog 44 is raised and loweredonce upon each complete rota.- tion of the disk.

v This insures that each carrier shall be picked up by disk'21 at atransfer point and carried completely around to the same transferpointand' released for transfer after one such complete rotation of thedisk. 7

The disks 21 and, 28 may be provided with a different number-of dogsthan that shown, and the gear-ratio will be then varied according to thework to be performed.

In pursuance of another important object of the invention, provision ismade for automatic lubrication of the various operating parts,preferably by the means now to be described:

The casing 1 serves as a reservoir for fluid lubricant, 70, whichpreferably is maintained at a height sufficient to reach the gears 11,16 and 18, which accordingly derive their lubrication directlytherefrom.

The hubs 30 and 47 are preferably channelled, as at'71 and 72, to giveaccess of the lubricant to the bearing studs 17 and 73, and the latterare provided with spiral channels 74, terminating in peripheralgrooves75 to which the lubricant elevated by the'rotation of hubs 30 and 48,passing from the grooves 75 to channels 76 by which it is conveyed bycentrifugal force to the carrier seats 32 and thence flows by gravitydown over the dogs 35-, 36,44 and the cam tracks 50, 52, 53, 55 andtheir associatedparts, includin the slide 57, gears 61 and 62, etc., sothat a the co-act-ing parts are constantly'flushed with lubricant,-automatically. A-cover-plate 77 prevents escape of the lubricant, andalso avoids intrusion of dirt, and to a large extent of fibre given offby some of the materials being braided.

Any fibres which may enter through such openings as may be left in thepath of the earriers, will be carried by the flow of lubricant andbycentrifugal force toward the walls 3 and will descend there between thehorizontal plate 112 and the walls 3, a depending flange 78 on the plateproviding a peripheral sump within which the fibre is felted, as at 79,constituting a filter for the lubricant, which returns thence to thecentral reservoir, escaping beneath the flange 78, in a purifiedcondition, being capable of repeated use without special attention. J

The above lubricating means forms the subject of claims in my co-pendingap lication Ser. No. 255,727, filed Feb. 20, 1928 In pursuance ofanother important object of the invention, means are provided to detectany breakage of thread andcause immediate stoppage of the machine.

detector wires 80 having eyes or hooks 81" through which are led thethreads 82 as they pass from the bobbins B to the braiding point 83.These detector wires are mounted in slideways 84 upon. the heads 85 ofthe car- :riersb etc., and each has an arm 86 extending inward to aplunger 87 'mounted freely in a central bore 88 of the carrier, beingsupported, when the thread is intact, in the po sition shown in Fig. 4.I

If a thread 82 breaks, the detector 80 and its plunger 8'? falls, and asthe carrier continues in its path, the plunger is soon brought intocontact with'one of a series of levers 89 (see Fig. 2) mounted pivotallyat 90, upon posts disposed atintervals around the periphery of thecasing By asystem of connecting levers 91, any of the levers 89 soactuated will operate va latch 92 connected with the shipping lever} 15and permit the latter to be thrown by a spring 93, throwing out theclutch 14 andshutting off the power from the shaft 7. p 1 i.

A spring 94 holds the latch92 in position to maintain the shippinglevernormally in the position to which it is moved by the op erator instarting the machine, as shown in ablemunber and construction, and whilea product ,of great variety and unusually perfect quality can be securedby the use of the braiding units shown in the drawings, it is tobeunderstood that the specific form shown by way of example is notnecessary tothe carrying out ofthe invention comprising the featuresalready set forth, nor is 1t deemed essential to describe the braidingunits in detail, inasmuch as the same form the subject of a separateapplication, Serial No. 117,904

filed June 23, 1926.

Likewise, the overhead structure of the machine, shown in Figs. 1 and3,, constitutes one desirable form ofconstruction to co-opcrate with themeans herein described and cla med fr actuation of the braiding units,

and a brief designation of its parts will be sufficient to permitcomplete understanding of their intended use.

Upright posts 100, with horizontal meni bors 101,serve to support aclosing device 102 to which the braiding components 82, whether threads,wires, or other suitable components,

are led from the units B, and the completed product P is drawn offthrough rolls 103 operated by gears'104 driven by a worm 105 on theupright shaft 9. The product is then led through a tension couple 106(see Fig. 3)

driven by a sprocket chain 107actuated by a sprocket wheel 108 on thecounter shaft 109 and delivered for accumulation in well ingpointthrough a central hollow post111.

with which the casing may be provided. j

From the foregoing description and illustration, it will be seen thatupon removal of the face plates 21, 22, etc, which can be effect-sreadily by removal of the screws 29, after moving the carriers 13 Betc., from the face recesses 32, the latter will be exposed, togetherwith the communication hub slots 37, 38 and 46, containing the dogs 35,36 and so that the latter may be readily inspected without otherwisedismantling themachine.

So also, by removing the drivers from their hearing posts 17 etc, thecams 41 will be exposed and may be removed from the plate 112, may bereplaced by other cams to vary the character of the braiding operation,without disturbing the underlying gears16.

The above provisions render the novel braiding machine herein disclosedunusually easy to operate and to maintain, in working condition. i

As a cognate advantage of the structure disclosed, it is possible toemploy carriers of very simple construction, inasmuch as the onlyportion of the carrier contained within the operating part of themachine is the flange '33, and this terminal flange may accordingly bemade of suitable extent radially to afford a broad upper bearingsurface, for contact with the lower surface of the face plates 21, 22etc, and to afford an equally broad lower bearing surface for engagementby the pertions 43 and 44 of the dogs, and as the latter engage theterminal flanges directly beneath their region of engagement with thedriver disks, the carriers and the braiding-devices B supported therebyare firmly held for the braiding operation at all times, including theperiods of transfer from disk to disk, making it possible toavoid-undesirable tilting or other movements of the braiding devicesrelatively to the drivers. Any wear is taken by parts which areinexpensive, accessible, and easily replaced. I I

It is to be noted further that the important operation of releasing theholding devices at the transfer points is accomplished by a force of acontinuous nature, viz i centrifugal force, which increases withthespeed of operation,

so that the disconnection is assured unfailingly; and inasmuch as thecoupling'of the carriers to the plates is effected positively by theaction of the cams uponthe dogs, the latter are not subject to failureof operation from any cause; and finally tlreprovision of bev- 'elledshoulders upon the under surfaces of biased from holding positionby theaction of centrifugal force, and also characterized by means actingpositively to move said holding members into position to secure saidcarriers to said drivers successively, said means being adapted torelease said holding members at the transfer regions and thereby topermit transfer of said carriers from driver to driver. V

2. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which the rotary drivers haveperipheral recesses adjacent to their upper faces to receive thecarriers.

3. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which the rotary drivers haveperipheral recesses adjacent to their upper faces to receivethe'carriers, and the carriers are formed with terminal flanges to entersaid recesses.

4. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which the rotary drivers haveperipheral recesses adjacent to their upper faces to receive thecarriers, and the carriers are formed with terminal flanges to entersaid recesses, said holding members being adapted to force said flangestoward'the axes of said drivers into firm engagement with the innerwalls of said recesses. V V

5. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which the rotary drivers havetheir upper faces recessed to receive the carriers.

6. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which the rotary drivers havetheir upper faces recessed to receive the carriers, and removableface-plates to close said recesses.

7. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which the rotary drivers havetheir upper faces recessed to receive the carriers, and removableface-plates to close said recesses, and said holding members are adaptedto hold said carriers against the under faces of said plates.

8. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which the rotary drivers havetheir upper faces recessed to receive thecarriers, and removableface-plates to close said recesses, and said holding members are adaptedto hold said carriers against the under faces of said plates, and toforce the carriers inward against the walls of said recesses. I

9. In .a braiding machine a series of rotary drivers having respectivelyface disks recessed peripheral y to receive braiding devices or carriersprovided with flanges, said drivers having holding members adapted toengage said flanges and hold the same against the inner walls of saidrecesses;

10. In a braidingmachine a series of rotary drivers having respective]recessed peripherally to reeeiveli vices or carriers provided withflanges, said drivers having holding members adapted to engage saidflanges and hold the same against the inner walls of saidrecesses and incombination therewith a series of carriers having terminal flanges.

11. In a braiding machine a series of rotary drivers havingrespectivelfi face. disks recessed peripherally to receive aidingdevices or carriers provided with flanges, said drivers having holdingmembers adapted to engage said flanges and hold the same against theunder surfaces of said face disks, and in combination therewith a seriesof carriers having terminal flanges provided with an nular shouldersupon their terminal faces.

12. In a braiding machine a series of rotary drivers having respectivelyface disks recessed peripherally to receive braiding de vices orcarriers provided with flanges, said drivers having holding membersadapted to engage said flanges and hold the same against the undersurfaces of said face disks, and in combination therewith a series ofcarriers having terminal flanges provided with annular shoulders upontheirterminal faces extending beneath said face disks and adapted to 'beengaged by said holding members.

13. A braiding machine as in claim 1, in which the means to move theholding members comprises a cam fixed adjacent to the driver whoseholding members are actuated thereby.

14. 'A braiding machine asin claim 1, in which the means to move theholding mem- -bers comprises a cam fixed adjacent to the driver whoseholding members are actuated thereby, said cam being of annular form.

15. A braiding machine as in claim 1, in which the means to move theholding members comprises a cam fixed adjacent to the driver whoseholding members are actuated thereby, said cam beingof annular form andhaving face-tracks arranged co-axially with respect to said rotarydriver. 16. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in whichthe holding membersare constituted by dogs mounted pivotally on the rotary drivers. 17. Abraiding machine as in claim 1 in which the holding members areconstituted by dogs mounted pivotally on the rotary drivers, and theactuating means comprise a cam having an annular face track arrangedco-axially with respectto the rotary driver and adapted to force saiddogs upwardly against the carrier.

18; A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which a base is provided withupright bearings for the rotary drivers, and an auxiliary 7 base plateisprovided with annular cams arranged co-aiiially with respect to saiddrivers. 19, A braiding machine as in claim 1- in which, base ispro'videdwith upright bearings for therotary drivers, and an auxiliarybase plate is provided with annular cams ar- 10 ranged Eco-axially withrespect to said drivers beneath the drivers.

20. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which a base is provided withupright bearings forthe rotary drivers, and an auxiliary base plateisprov ded with annular cams arranged co-axially with respect to saiddrivers beneath the drivers, said drivers having hubsextendingdownwardly through said cams and provided with intermeshinggears beneath said cam plate. I

, 21. A braiding machine as in claim 1' in which a base is provided withupright bearings for the rotary drivers, and an auxiliary base plate isprovided with annular cams arranged co-axially with respect to saiddrivers beneath the drivers, said drivers having hubs extendingdownwardly through said cams and provided with intermeshing gears bevneath said cam plate, the hubs having radial.

slots with dogs mounted pivotally in said slots above said cams, andadapted to be operated thereby to hold'said carriers.

22. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which a base 18 provided withupright bearings for the rotary drivers, and an auxiliary base plate isprovidedwith annular cams arranged co-axiall'y with respect to saiddrivers beneath the drivers, said drivers having hubs extendingdownwardly through said cams beneath the drivers, said drivers havinghubs extending downwardly through said cams and provided withintermeshing gears beneath said eamplate, the'hubs having radial slotswith dogs mounted pivotally in said slots above said cams, and adaptedto be operated thereby to hold said carriersytheupper faces of saiddrivers having peripheral recesses communicating with said slots andadapted toreceiv'e said carriers, and cover plates upon the drivers inposition to close said recesses, serving as abutments against the undersur- Lessjrai ings or the rotary drivers, and an auxiliary base plate isprovided withannular cams ar ranged co-axially w th respect to saiddr1ve'rsbeneath the drivers said drivers havin 7 C hubs extendingdownwardly through said cams and provided with intermeshing gearsbeneath said cam plate, the hubs having ra dial slots with dogs mountedpivotally said slots above said cams, and adapted to be operated therebyto hold said carriers, the upper faces of said dr vers havin peripheralrecesses communicating withsaid slots and adapted; toreceive saidcarriers, and cover plates upon the drivers in position to close saidrecesses, serving as abutments against the under surfaces of which thecarriers are held by said dogs, and means to secure said cover plates tosaid drivers removably,

whereby, upon removal of'said cover plates and carriers, said dogs andcams areexposed.

25. A braiding machine as in claim 1 in which a base is provided withupright bearings for the rotary drivers, and an auxiliary base plate isprovided with annular cams arranged co-arially with respect to saiddrivers beneath the drivers, said drivers having hubs extendingdownwardlythrough said cams and provided with inter-meshing gearsbeneath said cam plate, the hubs having radial slots with dogs mountedpivotally in said slots above said cams, and adapted to'be operatedthereby to hold said carriers, the upper faces of said drivershavingperipheral recesses communicating with said slots and adapted to receivesaid carriers, and cover plates upon the drivers in posit-ion to closesaid recesses, serving as abutinents against the under surfaces ot-whichthe carriers are held by s'aiddogs, and means to secure said coverplates to said drivers rem'ovably,

whereby, upon removal of said cover plates and carriers, said dogs andcams are exposed, and said drivers being removable from said bearings toexpose said annular cams,so that the latter may be removed andreplacedwhile said gears are left in place.

26. A braiding machine as in claim 11 in which a base is provided withupright hearing posts for the rotary drivers, and an auxiliary baseplate is provided with annular cams arranged co-axially with respect tosaid drivers. 7 i

27. A rotary driver for braiding machines, said driver comprising a hubhavinglongitudinal slots and peripheral face recesses communicating withsaid slots, said face recesses being adapted to receivefianged carriers,andholding members mounted in said slots and adapted to engage saidflanged carriers retentively.

28. A rotary driver for braiding machines, said driver comprising a hubhaving longitudinal slots and peripheral face recesses communicatingwith said slots, said face recesses being adapted to receive flangedcarriers, and holding members mounted in said slots and adapted toengage said flanged carriers retentively, anda cover plate for said facerecesses, said. cover plate serving as an abutment against the undersurface of which said carriers may be held by said holding members.

29. A rotary driver for braiding machines, said driver comprising a hubhaving longitudinal slots and peripheral face recesses communicatingwith said slots, said face recesses being adapted to receive flangedcarriers, and holding members mounted in said slots and adapted toengage said flanged carriers retentively, said holding members com.-prising dogs mounted u on pivots carried by said hub transversely 0 saidslots.

30. A rotary driver for braiding machines, said driver comprising a hubhaving longitudinal slots and peripheral face recesses communicatingwith said slots, said face recesses being adapted to receive flangedcarriers, and holdin members mounted in said slots and adapte to engagesaid flanged carriers retentively, said holding members comprising dogsmounted upon pivots carried by said hub transversely of said slots, andhaving radial shafts provided with anti-friction rollers.

31. A holding member for a rotary driver in a braiding machine of theclass described, said holding member comprising a dog having a shoulderadapted to be engaged retentively with a flanged braiding device orcarrier, and a shaft provided with an antifriction roller, said doghaving a yoke adapt ed to serve as a lateral bearing for said roller ineither of a plurality of positions on said shaft.

32. In a braiding machine having a plurality of rotary driversco-operating to transport and transfer braiding devices or carriers, thecombination with a rotary driver having holding members for saidcarriers of a cam to actuate said holding members, said cam comprising amember having an interrupted annular cam track and a cam part movableinto and out of alignment with said cam track at the interrupted regionthereof, and means connected with said rotary driver to causereciprocation of said cam part at intervals to release said holdingmembers successively.

33. In a braiding machine having a rotary driver provided with aplurality of holding members, a cam having an interrupted annular trackadapted to be engaged by said holding members successively and to causeretentive engagement thereof with said carriers in succession, said camcomprising a slide bearing a cam section with a plurality of differentlypositioned cam track portions adapted to be brought alternatively intoalignment with said main annular cam track at the interrupted portionthereof.

34. In a braidin machine having a rotary driver provided with aplurality of holding members, a cam having an interrupted annular trackadapted to be engaged by said holding members successively and to causeretentive engagement thereof with said carriers in succession, said camcomprising a slide bearing a cam section with a plurality of differentlypositioned cam track portions adapted to be brought alternatively intoalignment with said main annular cam track at the interrupted portionthereof, said slide being geared to said driver, whereby thereciprocation of said slide is co-ordinated with the rotation of saiddriver relatively to said cam track.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

HARRY G. ROBINSON.

